-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.tvinsite.com/multichannelnews/index.asp?layout=story&articleid=&doc _id=39129&display=breakingNews& Click Here: <A HREF="http://www.tvinsite.com/multichannelnews/index.asp?layout=story&articlei d=&doc_id=39129&display=breakingNews&">Cahners | TVinsite</A> ----- NBC's Lack, Rep. Waxman Clashing By Ted Hearn Multichannel News 7/31/2001 12:21:00 AM Printer-Friendly version E-mail this to a colleagueRep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) wants NBC News to surrender to him alleged in-house NBC videotapes that reportedly show presidential-election-night interference with news operations by General Electric Co. chairman and CEO Jack Welch in support of then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush. GE, one of the largest industrial conglomerates in the world, is the corporate parent of NBC, which owns a national TV network, multiple local TV stations and a stable of cable networks. Like many major news outlets, NBC News called last November's presidential race for Republican Bush over Democrat Al Gore, even though the contest wasn't decided by the U.S. Supreme Court until more than one month later in Bush's favor. NBC president and CEO Andrew Lack has repeatedly denied the Welch allegation, both in sworn House testimony Feb. 14 and in two letters to Waxman subsequent to his House Energy and Commerce appearance. But Waxman has kept pressing Lack and complaining that his denials have been evasive. In raising the Welch matter at the House hearing, Waxman said he was aware of rumors -- perhaps recorded on videotape by NBC promotional and advertising personnel -- that Welch made statements suggesting that he wanted NBC News to call the race for Bush. In a Feb. 16 follow-up letter to Lack, Waxman provided additional details surrounding the Welch 'rumor' that Waxman said he hoped turned out to be nothing more than an 'urban myth.' For instance, Waxman said he heard of two NBC videotapes 'that would either prove or debunk the allegation.' He said one tape is 'said to be in the closet of Frank Raddis, NBC's East Coast head of advertising and promotion,' and it captures NBC decision-desk events on election night in a comprehensive manner with high picture quality. Waxman said he was aware of a second tape shot in 'high 8' with a hand-held camera by Steve Fastook or John Larrouso. Waxman did not identify these individuals as NBC employees. 'This tape is reportedly not as comprehensive as the first tape, but it shows Mr. Welch pressuring the desk to call the election for George W. Bush,' Waxman told Lack in the Feb. 16 letter. Waxman also recounted for Lack the substance of three rumors that showed 'inappropriate interference' by Welch, according to Waxman's unnamed rumor providers. Welch, Waxman said, 'reportedly cheered when things appeared to favor George W. Bush and hissed when they appeared to favor Al Gore.' Welch also told someone at the NBC decision desk: 'What would I have to give you to call the race for Bush?' But Waxman said the most serious allegation he knew of was that Welch was 'responsible for giving the order to call the election for George W. Bush.' For his part, Lack has told Waxman more than once that Welch in no way interfered with NBC News' election-night coverage. He added that because Welch was totally uninvolved, there were no videotapes that would either support or refute his claim. I was there and in charge. It just didn't happen. So there can be no videotape showing that it did,' Lack said in a Feb. 22 reply to Waxman. Lack was president of NBC News, but he became president and CEO of NBC in May. Although Waxman said he was reassured by Lack's general denials, he complained that Lack did not specifically address his questions about the two tapes. 'I asked you a simple, direct question, and you responded with an artful and transparent rhetorical evasion,' Waxman said in a March 15 letter to Lack. 'Instead of providing me with that information, you responded with syllogistic reasoning: Mr. Welch did not interfere, therefore, `there can be no videotape showing' he interfered.' Taking one more swipe at Lack, Waxman concluded: 'I am confident that reporters in your own news division would consider your Feb. 22 response wholly inadequate if it were provided by a government official in response to a journalist's question.' The Waxman-Lack dispute could come to a head Tuesday. In a July 11 letter to Lack, Waxman requested that NBC review his questions a second time and report its finding by July 31. An NBC source was checking whether Lack would have anything more to say to Waxman by the deadline. In his House testimony, Lack called the Welch story a 'dopey rumor' that was untrue and claimed he was unaware if the videotapes existed. Lack acknowledged that Welch visited NBC News on election night and if a videotape of Welch's appearance existed, Waxman 'was certainly welcome to the tape.' But Lack has backed away from that promise of furnishing the video. In his April 20 letter to Waxman, Lack said, 'It would be highly inappropriate for us to share any such tapes with the government.' Waxman replied that the videotapes he seeks are not protected by the First Amendment because they do not involve newsgathering or intrude on editorial decision making. Printer-Friendly version � 2001 Cahners Business Information ----- Aloha, He'Ping, Om, Shalom, Salaam. Em Hotep, Peace Be, All My Relations. Omnia Bona Bonis, Adieu, Adios, Aloha. Amen. Roads End <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! 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